Illumination apparatus for warning and signaling purposes and having headlight and warning light units adjustable in unison



June 16, 1953 T. E. MGDowELL ET AL 2,642,522

ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR WARNING AND SIGNALING PURPOSES AND HAVING HEADLIGHT AND WARNING LIGHT UNITS ADJUSTABLE IN UNISON Filed March 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 16, 1953 'r. E. McDowELl. ETAL 2,642,522

ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR WARNING AND SIGNALING PURPosEs AND HAVING HEADLIGHT AND WARNING LIGHT UNITS ADJUSTABLE 1N UNIsoN Filed March 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet-2 .lune 16, 1953 T. E. MoDowELl. ET AL 2,642,522

ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR WARNING AND SIGNALING *Hf PURPOSES AND HAVING HEADLIGHT AND WARNING LIGHT UNITS ADJUSTABLE IN UNISON l Filed March 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED .STATES OFFICE Thomas. E.. McDowell and ArthuraC. HeehlergChicago, .'Ill.,.assignors to The Pyle-Nationalvf-.Gompany, 1Chicago,.Ill., a corporationof .New Jerseyl ApplicationgMarch 3, 1949,"Se1"ial'N0.`-79,'444

-6rClaimS. (Cl. 24U-48) This invention .relates generally to illumina- `tion apparatus, and'more lspeciiically, `to lightlingffixtures adaptedto 'serve as Warning :lights "on'vehicles such "as railroad trains and-the like 'oriassignal lights in various strategiclocations. *5

videdwith alseal beam headlight which isar- 2 :ranged on the-mounting plate in: spaced .f relation to a second lamp unit. In the Ypreferredem- 'bodimentherein disclosed, the second unit may b'e'constructed to include asource .of lightfand :a vmovable reiiector -unit -spaced therefrom but integrally assembled therewith. The spider supp'ortffor'thereflector is angularly disposed and :arranged in such a manner as to-move-ina'conrically-eccentric path With respect to a Anormal longitudinal xture axis,'therebypermitting the production of a-.movable `beam of warninglight.

:Inasmuch as the .instant invention Ycontemplates theuse of an adjustable Ysuspension-.assembly, it `rwill be :apparent Vthat zthe mounting :plate may be' aligned relative -to Vthe .casing .and

the .optic axes .of the .projected beamsof .light f -emanating from theheadlight and the Warning light may be aligned, for example, upon any desired point .on the roadbed.

Theinstant invention provides a-lightingxture which is uniquelyadaptablefor vserving .a dual :function namely, as .an auxiliary -headlight for backing-uppurposes`A and asa gyrating Warning light Wh-ich .may .be .of -a distinctive color-for safety fpurposesfas, for example, when the .train upon Which-fthe .lighting fixture is installed .slows'downor comes'toa-full stop.

lIt is, therefore-.an object of this-invention-to -provide van improved illumination apparatus comprising a 'combination spotlightfor headlight -and Warning light r.suitable -for use :upon vve- Yhiclesorfo'r use in yiixedinstallations instraftegic .2 locations.

.AT-urther vobject of this inventionlis to provide va. combination fixed P" light :and moveable Warn- .fing zlight wherein th'e nfespective lamp A.unitszare 55 Y2 mounted onfa common vbracket-.suspended Within .a casing-lstructureffor adjustable `alignmentz'relative-thereto. Y

fAnother object '.of :this invention f is to provide a' combination headlight and Warning light-Which is freadily. adaptable .i for automatically controlled Operation. i

A -further obj ect' of i this 1 invention isto Lprovide Y"a control .system for a-combination headlight LVand Warning -light whereby the 'combination .light may be selectively ope-ratedI as an auxiliary fbacking .up light and as y-a Warning light.

Yet another .object of Athisinvention is tojpro- 'vide fa Acontrol system `for--a combination light f-xture whereby f the combination ylights may .be selectively operated to producefafstationary;beam iof li'ghtor -to f produce va gyr-ating warning light.

'Another-.object of this invention-is to ...provide l-a controlfsystem .for ra vcombination light of the type herein described which includesa'pressure- "responsive control'devic'e Whereby the combination 'light *automatically produces ya g'yrating "..Warninglight inresponsetothe setting of brakes -ronithe '.vehicleiuponl Whichsthe combination light may-ibo carried.

A vfurther' object; off this invention isto. provide a y control :system ffor ra :combination light which includes A:elements responsive tothe lactuation Lof a AVVvoltage 'regulatorfonthef generatorfnormally carried 'by a irailroad `vehicle whereby the Ycomlbination light Willbe 'automatically Aoperatedfto 1produce'a gyrating Warninglight upon reduction 'of the 'speed 'o'f 'the vehicle below a -predetermined quantitative fvalue.

'Still another fobject of 'this Einvention is 'to provide methods lof Y* controlling `-a Ycombination headlight 'andwarning light whereby the'com- -`bination light may be 'operate'tlto'producenJ sta- 'tionary' beam of light as .andlfor :backing up purposes Vor to producefagyrating AWarning light in .response to conditions indicative .of a departure l:from .anormal condition.

It is believed .that the methods of Ycontrol practiced with Athe ninstant invention will be .clearly understood from a .description of 'the .apparatus .provided -for :practicing .the same.

iMany other, objects land .advantages of .the instant inventionwill' be 'manifestV to those versed vin =the .art /through .reference to r`the following .detailedidescriptionfand the accompanying drawings' in -Which-vwe have shown, byway of example, 4a preferred embodiment of falcombination. head- .lightfand Warning liglitfembodying thel principles ..ofi our invention.

novel and improved mounting plate incorporated Y' in the instant apparatus;

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating one method'of control which may be practiced wit-h the instant apparatus;

Figure is a circuit diagram illustrating an alternative method of control Which may be practiced in the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating yet another method of control which may be practiced with the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring generally to Figures 1 and 2, a combination lighting fixture is indicated generally by the reference numeral I0 and includes a casing or body member II substantially of annular shape and adapted to receive in surrounding relationship therewith a drum-type casing I2. A door I3 having mounted therein a lens gasket I 4 and a lens I5 is arranged to pivot about a hinge stud I6 aixed to one side of the body II. The door I3 can be locked in sealed engagement with the body II by bringing a gasket I'I seatedv within an annular recess in the door into sealing contact with an appropriate abutment formed on the body I I after which a Wing latch I8 pivotally mounted on a latch stud I9 aifixed to the door I3 may be locked to an appropriate grooved extension of the body l I.

The body I I is provided on itsinner peripheral surface withV a plurality of inwardly extending lugs as at I Ia which may have suitable openings formed therein.

Extending through the openings of each of the lugs IIa is a cap screw 20 suitably threaded along its shank portion to receive a plurality of jam nuts 2I. A unit holder or mounting plate 22 is carried by the cap screws 20 in such a manner as to permit selective positioning of the mounting plates relative to the case body I I. To that end, the cap screws 20 may be provided with resilient spring members 23' which may be interposed between the lugs I Ia and the mounting plate 22 whereby the mounting plate 22 is normally biased away from the lugs I Ia. It Will be readily understood that the cap screws 20 could also be provided with an additional jam nut 2I instead of a resilient member 23 and selective positioning of `the mounting plate 22 relative to the case body I I would still be possible.

The details of the mounting plate structure are best seen through reference to Figures 1 and 3. As shown on the drawings, the mounting plate 22 is substantially of a circular configuration and is provided with a rearwardly extending support arm as at 22a suitable for receiving in mounted assembly' thereon a motor 24 and a reector apparatus indicated generally at 25.

The mounting plate 22 is further provided with a forwardly extending flange portion 22h which surrounds an aperture indicated at '26. A second aperture 21 is also defined by the mounting plate 22 and lies in spaced relationship to aperture 26 and lies substantially on a co-linear axis extending vertically through the mounting plate V22.

The mounting plate 22 is shaped in such a manner as to define a platform portion 22e which lies at a point between the extremities 0f the 4 aperture 26 and the aperture 21 and is adapted to receive a lamp adaptor 28 and a suitable socket 29 in rm assembly therewith.

As may be seen on Figure 3, the mounting plate 22 is provided with a plurality of suitable openings 39 for receivingr the cap screws '2li as well as additional openings 3| adapted to hold a lens gasket 32 carrying a lens 33 by means of a plurality of screw-mounted lensV clips 34. The

ylens 33 may be made of glass or plastic of any desired color and is preferably of clear red glass yfor use as a warning light.

The reiiector apparatus 25 mounted on the support arm 22a is aligned in such a manner that the rays of light emanating from a bulb 35 which may be turned into the socket 29 will be reiiected beyond the bulb 35 and 'through the lens 33.

Ythe platform portion 22e are arranged to lie on an angularly displaced'plane so that Ithe axis of rotation of the shaft 24a is slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the fixture IIl. The reflector spider 25a is constructed in such a manner as to have the bore of the stop collar 2519 angularly eccentrically disposed relative to the peripheries of the arm portions of the spider. Hence, when the shaft 24a is rotated by the motor 24, the arms of the reflector spider will move in a conically eccentric path with respect to the normal longitudinal fixture axis. This arrangement permits the motor 24 to rotate the reflector 25 to oscillate in such a manner as to produce a gyrating beam of light.

Referring further to Figures 1, 2' and 3,`the fixture I0 is provided with a lamp Y'ring 38 which is of a generally annular configuration and has a plurality of extending boss portions 38a. The lamp ring 38 may be seated withinthe flange 22h of the mounting plate 22. A sealed beam lamp unit 39 may be mounted within the lamp ring 3B by means of a plurality of fastening means 4U.

It will be apparent that the mounting plate 22 'is actually adjustably suspended Within the case body II and adjustment of the mounting plate `relative to the body of the fixture will result in a selective positioning of the optic axes of the projected beams of light emanating from the sealed beam lamp unit 39 and the gyrating warning light.

Turning now to Figures 4, 5 .and 6, schematic wiring diagrams are shown illustrating how the present combination light fixture- I0 may be controlled under different operating conditions.

It will be apparent that one or more pilot lights may be remotely located from the fixture I0 and arranged to afford convenient visible signals representative of the operating status of the various elements of the fixture. A preferred arrangement will be set forth in greater detail presently.

Referring first to Figure 4, the bulb 45, the motor 24, the sealed beam unit 39 and a pilot light 4I are shown interposed in an electric circuit connected to a suitable source of power indicated by the reference character S. 'A selector switch 42 is provided which may be selectively actuated to the position W for. white operation and to the position R for red operation. If the stop.

switch` 42is moveditoposition W, the currentwiljl into: a lead-'fanthrough alivio-position svviteh-` v43 t'o energize the sealed beam lamp-unitY 39; If the switch 42fis moved tothe Rt position, currentwill ow intoaA lead'y bfand will operatewtoy energze- 2L series relay coil '44. interposed; therein. The series relay. coil 44 controls fthe relay switchV 43; and

actuates'it to a second-,positionwhereb-ythe elec,- trical circuit in leadaV isi'brokenfand an electrical circuit in aleadcwillibe completed. Hencdcur rent will-:flowV fromxltlie lead b1 throughthe relay switch 43 andi into the lead c to energize` the motor 242 and the pilotalight 4l. Current will also flow through th-eirelay' coil 44: to energize the bulb 35i; Thus, the-stationary beamof lightproduced' by the. sealed beam lampA unit' 391wi1lgbe extinguished andl a gyrating. warning; beamv of light' will be produced. It should'be noted thatwhentherelaycoil 44 is deenergized, the circuit through lead. ey is opened thereby extinguishing' thepilotlight 4|. If the bulb 35 burns out, therel'ayl coil 4411s also deenergized and energization of the motor'24. or thefpilot light 41: is precluded; In such event', the-circuit can be restored to normal operating",- condition only by the replacement ofthe burned: out bulb with an operative bulb 35. It'will be evident that this arrangement permits the pilot light 4 l to bea positive and reliablesignal under all conditions since energization ofthe pilot light'will occur only when a warning light is being produced.

-Referring now. to Figure 5, am'odification of the basiccircuit shown andidescribedin connection with'Figure 4 is provided in the form of' an additional lead-d which may be connected; on the source side of the selectorswitch 42 and to the bead b thereby'by-passing the selector switch 42. Interposed in the lead d is a manual switch 45 and a switch 46 controlled by a pressure-responsive device 41. The pressure-responsive device 41 may be incorporated into the conduits of a fluid brake system such as is normally provided upon a railroad train or the like and may be adapted to respond to'variations in air pressure occurring in the conduits, of the uid brake; systern such' as occur uponl the application-of'brakes upon slowing down the train orl coming to a full It' will beV evident thatY this particular arrangement provides for adominationv lofwhite operation by red operation. This; is true because even though the selector switch 42 is moved to position W whereby the sealed beam lamp unit 39 v is energized to produce a stationary beam of white light, if the manual switch 45 is closed, actuation of the pressure-responsive device 41 Will close the switch 46, thereby completing the electric circuit. Current will flow through the lead d into the lead b to energize the series relay coil 44. The series relay coil 44 will, in turn, actuate the relay switch 43 to its second position thereby eX- tinguishing the sealed beam lamp unit 39 and energizing the bulb 35, the mot-or 24 and the pilot light 4I.

It will, of course, be understood that the pressure responsive device 41 indicated in schematic form only may be of the type incorporating a voltagefreeulatorgofr 'fr-conventional railroad gene erator, Thus, itinay loe-,Seen that thea selector switch; 42,;;is byv-passed by-a leadd in-which is interposed@,relayswitch-4B controlled by a series relay coil48 andai manually controlled switch 45'.

The seriesrelay coil-48; is connected in circuit withia*1 reversecurrent contactor; 49 of aconventional voltage regulator 50 Vnormally, incorporated asa part-,lofA the y.usual control devicel for aI train generator.VH n

It may be-,noted atthisgpointthat train genera,- torsfayre generally arrangedso asI topermit actuationofa` voltageregulatorinl response to attainment of predetermined quantitative values of speedsf, the railroad vehicle vcarrying the; generatorset.l Thus, it is contemplated that rthe reversecurrentfcontactor' 49 may be actuated in response toI slowing f down of` a railroad vehicle belowra criticalspeedwhich'will be; of thev same quantitative value asl the critical speed ofthe voltage-,regulator5l); v

Whenthe seriesrela-y coil 48is deenergized, the switch` 46will be closed, and if the .manual Vswitch 45'r isalsoclosed, current -will flow throughthe positiveterminal ofA the source Sinto the lead d andy through the switch 46,', through thevswitch 45"-and,into the lea-db. Theseries relay coil 44 will then be energized and evenlthough theY selector switch-'42. is in theW posit-ion as and for producing afstationaryv beam of` light, the relay switch 43' will be actua-ted to its secondA position, thereby.; 'extinguishing the*y sealedbeami lamp unit 39l and energizing; the motor:y 24, thebulb 35fand the pilot light 4| ton produce a gyrating beam of l warning light.

As shown in Figure 6, the control` circuit may alsojbe provided with, an` additional manual switch5 Il ina leadfeconnected acrossthe positive terminal of= the source S-'and the lead din such amanner as to permit selectivefby-passing ofthe automatically controlled switch'46f, the manual controlled switch. 45y andthe selector switch '42. Thus, whenv theswitch 5I is closed, current will ow: from the. positive-terminal` of the source S into-the lead band will produce a` gyra-ting beam off warning' light in accordance with the method previously: described.

While welhaveshown particular embodiments offourf invention, it will;` ofl course; be understood that. we'doV not wish-to be limited thereto since many modifications and alternative constructions may-` :be made-withouty departing Vfrom the spirit or scope thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. Illumination apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical casing having a clear lens in one end thereof, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses extending radially inwardly into said casing, a plate-like bracket in said casing, -a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced adjustable mounting means between said bracket and said bosses, said bracket carrying a sealed beam lamp unit to project a stationary beam of lightthrough said clear lens, said bracket carrying a source of light adjacent saidl sealed beam lamp unit and having a pedestal portion behind said source of light carrying a motor, said motor having a movable reector connected thereto -to collect and focus the rays of light from said source of -light to project a movable beam of light through said lens, the adjustment of .said

'bracket adjusting in unison only the projection axes of both of said beam-s of light.

. 7 said bracket having a iirst opening therein 1re-2 ceiving a sealed beam lamp unit,` retainer means to hold vsaid sealed beam lamp unit in rm as` sembly with said bracketto project a relatively. stationary beam of light through the open endof the casing, said bracket having a' second opening therein adjacent Ysaid first opening, a colored lens mounted on said bracket over'said second opening, a pedestal portion on said .bracket in said second opening and carrying a light source thereon, and a second pedestal' portion on said bracket behind said second-opening and carrying a motor having a movable reflector connected thereto to project a movable beam of light throughl said lens and out of the open end of said casing, and adjustable mounting. means supporting said bracket insaid casing to adjust the projection axes of both of said beams of light in unison only. 3. Illuminationl apparatus, comprising, a casing having an open end, a bracket in said casing and carrying a light unit to project a relatively stationary beam of light through said open end of said casing, said bracket having a pair of pedestal portions spaced from each other longitudinally along the axis of said casing and spaced laterally with respect to said light unit, a light source on one of said pedestal portions and a motor having a movable reflector connected thereto mounted on the other of said pedestal portions and arranged to reect a movable beam of light through said open end of said casing, and mounting means adjustably supporting said bracket in'said casing to adjust the projection axes of both of'said beams of light in unison only. f

4. A combination headlight-warning light ap'- vparatus, comprising, a unitary bracket having a headlight unit mounted in rm assembly therewith to project a stationarybeam of light on a first projection axis, a light source on said bracket adjacent said headlight unit, said bracket hav- 'ing a pedestal adjacent said light source, and a motor-"on said pedestal having an eccentrically oiset parabolic reiiector connected in driven assembly therewith to project the light rays from said light source as a moving beam around a second projection axis generally parallel to said rst projection axis, said unitary brackethaving adjustable connecting means adapted to assemble the apparatus in a casing and to adjust both of Vsaid projection axes in unison only with respect to the casing. 5. Illumination apparatus, comprising, in com- 8 bination, ahousing, a door in one end-of said housing, a'clear lens in said door, a mounting plate, a plurality of spaced apart connections between said housing and'said mounting plate to adjustably suspend said plate in said housing adjacent said clear lens, an integral headlight unit having its own casing, reector and lens elements mounted in rm assembly'on said plate andarranged to project a Xed headlight beam through said clear lenson a rst projection axis, a colored lens, and a light source carried by said plate in spaced relation to said :headlight unit, and gyrating reflector means positioned in spaced alignment relative to said colored 'lens andsaid light source and being carried by said mounting plate for projecting a gyrating beam ofJ light through said colored lens and said clear lens on a second projection axis generally parallel to said first projection axis, Said mounting plate being adjustable to valign the axes of said beams of light in unison only. f

6. vIllumination' apparatus comprising, in 1com lbination, a case, a'mountingfplatein said case, a sealed beam lamp unit mounted on a lower portion of said mounting plate, a support'` arm extending rearwardly and being integral with said mounting plate, motor driven reflector means on said support arm, a stationary second lamp unit on said mounting plate spaced from said sealed beam lamp unit and in lalignment with the optic axis of said reflector means, lwhereby the optic axes of projected beams of light emanating from saidlamp -units are generally parallelfiandv adjustable connecting means between said'mounting plate and said case to adjust said optic axes with respect to `said casein unison only. v

j THOMAS E. MCDOWELLL ARTHUR C. HEEHLER.

References Cited in the file ofY thisv patent UNITED STATES PATENTS .2,486,853 Kenneu'y Nov. 1, l1949 

